We made it hard for ourselves, admits Dickov

THE fact the door to the third round remains open for Southend is particularly dispiriting for Athletic manager Paul Dickov, bearing in mind his team’s quiet control of most of the third-round tie at Roots Hall.

Athletic were a goal to the good thanks to James Wesolowski’s thunderous first-half drive, but Shefki Kuqi missed a glorious chance to put the visitors two up and Dean Furman crashed an effort against the crossbar in the second half.

The npower League Two leaders were constantly denied time and space. Up against a solid defensive wall, it appeared that their run of 16 matches without defeat was in severe danger.

Then came a bolt from the deep blue, as Athletic goalkeeper Alex Cisak – who later made a series of fine saves to stem a rising tide of pressure – made a poor clearance outside his area, with Ryan Hall finishing clinically for an equaliser.

Dickov felt his men should have had a more level-headed approach late on in the tie.

“We knew it would be tough down here,” he said. “I am not taking anything away from Southend, because I know that they are a very good team. But I felt that we brought a lot of the pressure on ourselves. Too many players were diving in giving away silly free-kicks and they are very clever from set-pieces.

“We didn’t hold the ball up or keep it as we had before and as soon as Jean-Yves and Mvoto and Nathan Clarke were clearing the ball – I thought they were both magnificent – it was coming straight back at us. But fair play to them. They gave it a right good go.”

Clarke was on the field as a replacement for Zander Diamond. The Scot was injured in the first quarter-hour as a result of a crunching late tackle from Bilel Mohsni.

The Shrimpers midfielder was booked and was extremely lucky to stay on the pitch after following up with a late challenge on Paul Black.

Referee David Webb’s leniency irked Dickov.

“He (Diamond) is struggling,” he added. “I would like the referee to see what happened to him as well.”